Apes, collectively Hominoidea (/ ˌhɒmɪˈnɔɪdi.ə /; hominoids), are a superfamily of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. They were more widespread in Africa, Asia, and Europe in prehistory, and, including humans, are found globally. Apes are found in the tropical forests of western and central Africa and Southeast Asia.

Understanding the Context

Apes are distinguished from monkeys by the complete absence of a tail and the presence of an appendix and by their more complex brains. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the 26 different types of apes, including the 8 types of great apes and 16 types of lesser apes. As an added bonus, we’ll also discuss how apes are classified and answer some of your most frequently asked questions about these wonderful primates. All The 26 Different Types of Apes: Pictures, Classification ...

Key Insights

- Outforia From the agile gibbons swinging across Southeast Asian canopies to the mighty gorillas of Africa, apes vary widely in size, appearance, and behavior. This guide presents thirty types of apes, giving each its own focus with details on habitat, distinctive features, and intriguing behaviors. There are four types of great apes: gorillas (Africa), bonobos (Africa), orangutans (SE Asia), and chimpanzees (Africa). Chimpanzees are great apes that live in the tropical rain forests of Africa from Sudan and Tanzania in the East to Senegal and Angola in the West. Apes are the members of the Hominoidea superfamily of primates.

Final Thoughts

The hominoids consist of the various species of gibbons (or "lesser apes"), as well as gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and humans (collectively referred to as the "great apes"). Apes (primates) look and act like humans, so they are symbols of kinship, intelligence, and the wild. They shape stories in Africa and Southeast Asia, influence science (evolution, tool use, social behavior), help lead forest conservation, and raise ethics about captivity and habitat loss.